Duel-purpose Sex-linked Chicks Project

[PioneerChicks]

I have a no-so-crazy idea forming in my head!

This year I will be getting the endangered Barred Holland breed and heritage Rhode Island Reds. These are both real duel-purpose birds.

If, as a side project, I breed the Holland females to a RIR male, the chicks would be sex-linked. Because they would be real duel-purpose birds (though not pure bred) both the males and females would be useful.

I live near a city were roosters aren't allowed in most areas (they are allowed in mine, thankfully!) and people like sexed chicks so they don't have to worry about roosters. But out a little ways in the country there could be some people who would like roosters for meat.

I would be selling pure blooded Holland's and RIR too, but as straight-run. I think Barred Hollands can be sexed at hatch already due to the father having two barred genes, but I would sell as un-sexed.

Hollands lay white eggs and RIR lay brown, so the offspring eggs would be somewhere in between.

Is this a good idea, or not so good? Concerns?

 

[poultryprofessor]

It all comes down to what people in your area want unless you are able to ship. Being able to guarantee pullets is definitely a plus. But, marketability of crossbred chicks ultimately depends on the color of the bird and the color egg they produce.

Crossing a Rhode Island Red cock on a Barred Holland hen should produce a bird that essentially looks like any other Black Sex-Link. Your pullets should be black with some red feathers in the chest/neck area. I'd expect a cream-colored egg which would set them apart from the typical Black Sex-Link crosses hatcheries produce. This could be a positive or a negative depending on your buyer.

Males would be barred. They'll basically look like the mothers except they'll likely have some red leakage. They aren't going to compete with something like a Cornish Cross on growth rates or feed conversion, so there may not be much interest in the males as meat birds. Dark-feathered birds aren't the best for producing clean looking carcasses, but I've definitely used them.

 

[PioneerChicks]

It all comes down to what people in your area want unless you are able to ship. Being able to guarantee pullets is definitely a plus. But, marketability of crossbred chicks ultimately depends on the color of the bird and the color egg they produce.

Crossing a Rhode Island Red cock on a Barred Holland hen should produce a bird that essentially looks like any other Black Sex-Link. Your pullets should be black with some red feathers in the chest/neck area. I'd expect a cream-colored egg which would set them apart from the typical Black Sex-Link crosses hatcheries produce. This could be a positive or a negative depending on your buyer.

Males would be barred. They'll basically look like the mothers except they'll likely have some red leakage. They aren't going to compete with something like a Cornish Cross on growth rates or feed conversion, so there may not be much interest in the males as meat birds. Dark-feathered birds aren't the best for producing clean looking carcasses, but I've definitely used them.

Thank you for these good points to consider! It would definitely be a different field than hatchery sex-links, and could vary in positivity. I might give it a little test and see how it works someday!

 

[Parront]

I like the Barred Hollands I have. I eat my own roosters, most people will not take one around here, does not mater if it is a rare breed. They dressed out about 2 pounds @ ~12 to 14 weeks. Not a modern meat bird by any means. If I were to make a sex link, I would use an Andalusian or Americana so I would have white eggs, or colored eggs. My reason to have the Barred Hollands is to have some white eggs in my flock. Colored eggs from the cross-bred hens would be a plus. Your pure bred girls would lay the white, cross bred would lay the pretty colors. You can tell the sex very easily by 4 weeks, and sell them then. Most of my buyers are not up to brooding chicks. They only want 4-5 birds, and they want pets that lay pretty eggs. Barred Hollands are sweet birds and make nice pets. Town line uses a Barred Rock for this cross: https://townlinehatchery.com/product/plymouth-blue/

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's could work, if that's what people want. Like I'm making sexlinked Cochin bantams since you can't buy sexed bantams hardly anywhere for less than 30 bucks. Plus I added a Frizzle gene to that to maybe move some boys a bit easier

 

[PioneerChicks]

I like the Barred Hollands I have. I eat my own roosters, most people will not take one around here, does not mater if it is a rare breed. They dressed out about 2 pounds @ ~12 to 14 weeks. Not a modern meat bird by any means. If I were to make a sex link, I would use an Andalusian or Americana so I would have white eggs, or colored eggs. My reason to have the Barred Hollands is to have some white eggs in my flock. Colored eggs from the cross-bred hens would be a plus. Your pure bred girls would lay the white, cross bred would lay the pretty colors. You can tell the sex very easily by 4 weeks, and sell them then. Most of my buyers are not up to brooding chicks. They only want 4-5 birds, and they want pets that lay pretty eggs. Barred Hollands are sweet birds and make nice pets. Town line uses a Barred Rock for this cross: https://townlinehatchery.com/product/plymouth-blue/

A colorful basket is wonderful! I'm glad you like your Hollands, I am really excited to try them! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[PioneerChicks]

It's could work, if that's what people want. Like I'm making sexlinked Cochin bantams since you can't buy sexed bantams hardly anywhere for less than 30 bucks. Plus I added a Frizzle gene to that to maybe move some boys a bit easier

Sexed bantam Cochins are a great idea! What colors are you using? Pictures?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Sexed bantam Cochins are a great idea! What colors are you using? Pictures?

They're still chicks now, but I'm using a barred female with a blue or black Frizzle male.

I'll get blue and black (or just black) females and barred males each with a chance of frizzling (imagine a barred frizzle)

 

[PioneerChicks]

They're still chicks now, but I'm using a barred female with a blue or black Frizzle male.

I'll get blue and black (or just black) females and barred males each with a chance of frizzling (imagine a barred frizzle)View attachment 2597069View attachment 2597070View attachment 2597072

Aww, they're adorable! This seems like a great plan, keep it up! I'd love updates!